Yoooo! This book is #2 in Cat Noir, that's crazy. Thank you so much everyone, please continue to vote and comment and thingsss, love hearing from you. Just, love you.

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[Narrator's POV]

"I'm Queen Bee."

Chloe lowers her head, her fingers tightening around the credit card she has held out. Audrey stares at her in disbelief.

"You are?"

Chloe bites her lip and nods hesitantly.

"One of those heroes?"

Chloe nods again a little more assuredly.

Audrey huffs the breath she was holding in anticipation. Her eyelids flutter as she snaps from her frozen state of shock. "You're...really not lying?"

"I'm sorry but it's the truth." Chloe says. "I'm so sorry for stealing Daddy's card, please don't hate me. Just—Just try to understand why I did it. I'm not some ruffian, I promise. My friends and I are doing good things. And, I'm your daughter, just like how you want what's best for me, I want the same for you. The way you act sometimes is...not good. And this card...I want to return it to Daddy. I care about Paris just as much as I care about us."

Audrey's attention isn't entirely on Chloe. Her eyes are darting around wildly as if she's running some sort of calculation in her head.

"Mommy...?" Chloe speaks up.

Audrey's mouth curls into a smile as she reaches a profitable conclusion.

"Mom." Chloe repeats louder.

Audrey snaps back to Chloe. "Oh, right, yes."

"Are you shocked? Disappointed? Furious beyond words?" Chloe pesters.

"Of course not Chloe, you just caught me off guard a little." Audrey steps closer and strokes Chloe's cheek softly. "My dearest daughter, a superhero. I'm so proud of you."

"Proud?" Chloe echoes in surprise.

"Yes, I'm so thrilled to hear all about your adventures and your other hero friends. I know I haven't been the best mother but will you let me be a part of your life more?" Audrey says.

Chloe's eyes shimmer with tears of happiness. "You're really proud of me? Mommy...of course I want to share my life with you."

"I was just jealous of the heroes but hearing that my daughter is one of them makes me much more appreciative." Audrey says. "Don't worry, I'll fix everything at the conference tomorrow. And, I hope that this will gain your trust."

A smile spreads across Chloe's face as she bursts forward to hug her mother. "Yes! Yes! Yes! I'm so happy! I knew you would come around!"

Audrey slowly reaches up her arms and pats Chloe's back awkwardly. "How about I prepare dinner and you can tell me everything about the heroes."

Chloe pulls away to look at Audrey curiously. "Prepare, like, order someone else to do it?"

"Paying for someone else's effort isn't really preparing on my part." Audrey says.

"You're gonna cook?" Chloe exclaims in astonishment.

"Is that not normal?" Audrey says, a slight tone of concern in her voice.

"Well it is for other mothers maybe..." Chloe replies. "Have I...really made you happy? Happy to be my mother?"

Audrey surveys Chloe with a sad frown. "You shouldn't be begging for your mother's approval. Have you been feeling neglected for a long time?"

"N-No, well, I guess a little...." Chloe says timidly. "But it's okay. Everyone has their struggles, and, everyone deserves the chance to change."

"I'm sorry, Chloe..." Audrey says softly, lowering her eyes. "You've truly grown into a wonderful young lady."

Chloe hugs Audrey once more, nuzzling into her chest. Witnessing this person swallowing her pride and apologising, putting effort into things like cooking and taking interest in her daughters life; it seems so surreal. Hearing her softened voice and caring words, and feeling her tender embrace makes her suddenly much more motherly. It's Chloe's dream come true, what she had expected from the beginning.

This time Audrey actually rests her arms around Chloe to return the hug but they only stay there for a short moment before Audrey pulls away.

"I'll be in the kitchen."

Audrey turns and walks away but Chloe trots after her, following her all the way to the kitchen. When Audrey looks back at her uneasily, Chloe beams.

"I want to watch you cook!"

Audrey sighs and shakes her head. "Being cooped up in empty mansions with butlers waiting on you, it's no way to raise children. Do you even know how to cook for yourself, Chloe?"

"No..." Chloe admits sheepishly.

"Then you can help me if you want," Audrey says. "I'll teach you."

Chloe gasps happily. "Really? I'd love that!"

Audrey flinches, startled by Chloe's energy and excitement. "Alright..." She edges away uncomfortably and grabs an apron. "Put this on. Your clothes are probably worth a fortune."

"I don't mind," Chloe says. "You should wear it."

Audrey puts the apron over Chloe's head and yanks the ties into a tight bow. She then turns to silently gather ingredients. Chloe smiles down at the apron her mother had given her. The selflessness displayed by Audrey is a pleasant surprise, especially considering that her precious clothes might get stained.

"Can I help chop?" Chloe asks.

"No." Audrey answers shortly. "You'll cut yourself."

"How are you supposed to teach me if you won't let me help?" Chloe points her thumb at herself proudly. "I'm a superhero, remember? I can handle anything!"

Audrey sighs. "Fine, but watch, keep your fingers curled in like this. It's safer."

Chloe watches Audrey's demonstration keenly before retrieving a knife for herself and chopping along.

"Keep your hair out of your face." Audrey says, tucking Chloe's stray hair behind her ears.

Chloe smiles. "Thanks mommy."

Audrey falters, retracting her hand. She gives Chloe a weak smile and returns to slicing up vegetables.

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After coming home from the outing with his friends, Adrien transforms into Cat Noir and goes straight back out again in search for Ladybug. He combs the city with no luck and plonks down on a nice rooftop for a rest. It is then that, to his surprise, Ladybug comes to him.

"Hey there kitty."

Cat Noir turns to face Ladybug, his eyes lighting up. "My lady, you came out tonight."

"Only because I saw you running around outside when we've only just gotten back from the mall, so I wondered if you've had dinner." Ladybug smiles softly and holds out a brown paper bag.

Cat Noir accepts the bag happily and peers inside to see a load of croissants. "Thanks! You're always taking care of me, m'lady."

Ladybug's heart thumps yearningly in her chest as Cat Noir flashes a grin. She quickly looks away, fiddling with her hair nervously. "It's very diligent of you to come out on patrol straight away but you should be taking care of yourself."

"Actually, I wasn't patrolling," Cat Noir says, placing the paper bag aside. "I was looking for you."

"Me?" Ladybug gulps. "If that's the case...you could have just c-come to my place."

Cat Noir shakes his head. "Not Marinette, you."

"I don't understand what you mean." Ladybug replies confusedly.

Cat Noir approaches Ladybug slowly and silently, his eyes locked on hers. Ladybug shuffles back until she finds a wall behind her. Still, Cat Noir steps closer.

"What is it?" Ladybug asks.

Cat Noir smirks, his body looming over hers. "I seem to recall you treating Adrien and Marinette's relationship as one completely different from ours. Don't you remember making me, Cat Noir, ask you, Ladybug, to be my girlfriend separately for the sake of a bet? Well now it's only fair that you would have to break up with me separately too."

"W-What? No, I, I can't do that. Don't make me break up with you again. We, we were just starting to go back to normal. Everything is better now with me out of the picture. You....You haven't done anything wrong." Ladybug looks up at Cat Noir sadly. Her beloved kitty...she doesn't want to break his heart anymore. "This isn't a game, Chat. I love you..."

"I love you too. That's why I want to be with you through any way I can. As close as I can, for as much time as I can. That means Marinette broke up with Adrien but as of yet you and I are still dating," Cat Noir rests his hand on the wall beside Ladybug's head and leans in even closer, his voice lowering. "Bugaboo~"

Ladybug's heart pounds against her chest. She opens and closes her mouth silently, completely lost for words. She...can't find an argument against him. The heat of a blush creeps across her skin as Cat Noir moves in closer and closer. She should be resisting this, her mind is telling her to do so, but her heart won't let her. Her body won't move. Adrien has a point. Right now, they are Ladybug and Cat Noir. They are wearing disguises; the moment they put on these masks it is as if they are different people. They lead different lives, the ties to their civilian selves severed. They have no relation to Marinette, Adrien, Chloe or Audrey—nobody. They are free. There is no danger here. There is...nothing wrong with this, right?

Cat Noir stops just as their lips are about to touch. Ladybug has her eyes tightly shut, her cheeks a deep red. Cat Noir exhales a breath of amusement and Ladybug slowly opens one eye to peek at him in confusion.

"That expression is adorable, anticipating for me to kiss you." He teases with a smirk. "Looks like you don't hate me after all."

"I just told you I love you!" Ladybug snaps, blushing furiously. She then clamps a hand over her mouth and shrinks awkwardly. "W-W-Wait, I shouldn't—I mean, it's only because you're not playing fair!"

Cat Noir chuckles. "How so?"

That cheeky laughter sends Ladybug's heart into overdrive. "Y-You're seducing me!"

Cat Noir steps back from Ladybug and throws his head back with a hearty laugh. Ladybug surveys him with a mixture of anger, confusion and, well, a little disappointment. After building her up and making her heart race he just cuts it off before the climax. She is left hot and flustered whilst he stands there laughing lightly.

Ladybug places a hand over her chest, trying to settle herself. "I can't believe I let him make me feel like this. You let your guard down for one second..." She mutters.

Cat Noir's smile stretches from ear to ear. "I'm really happy that you want to kiss me so badly, m'lady, but that's not what I have planned for you this evening."

"Huh?" Ladybug says lamely.

"I told you I'm not that shallow. That's not entirely what I mean when I say I want to be with you. That's not all I need. I just want to be with you freely. I want to take you out and treat you, spread time with you and talk with you, flirt a little, hold your hand and cuddle you. I want to go on a date with my lady." Cat Noir bows and extends his hand. "Will you allow me to do so?"

Ladybug bites her lips as she looks down at Cat Noir's hand. She averts her eyes unsurely, though her hand reaches out to accept his without command. As soon as their hands touch, they clasp onto each other instinctively. Their fingers intertwine and lock together tightly, craving the security and warm of their unity. Ladybug smiles bashfully. Her eyes flicker back to Cat Noir and she nods shyly.

"O-Okay..."

Cat Noir's heart flutters. He exhales a shaky breath of relief and gives her a strong nod in return.

"Okay."

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"Take the pot off the stove and switch it off." Audrey instructs.

Chloe grabs the pot handles but her finger accidentally touches the hot metal side causing her to yelp in pain and pull back in alarm. Audrey yanks Chloe away and shields her as the pot tips over the edge and falls from the stove, splashing boiling water over Audrey. Audrey winces slightly but is otherwise unfazed.

"M-Mom!" Chloe exclaims. "Are you okay?"

"Yes. It's a little hot but it only spilt on my clothes so I won't be burned." Audrey says calmly.

"But..." Chloe surveys her mother worriedly. "You're seriously just fine?"

"Did you get burnt anywhere?" Audrey asks, ignoring Chloe's concern for her.

"No, you...you shielded me." Chloe says, still in awe of Audrey's actions.

"What about your finger?" Audrey takes Chloe's hand to observe it. "Run it under cold water, wrap it and then go wait at the table. I'll get this cleaned up and handle the rest."

Chloe sighs in disappointment but she doesn't argue with her mother. She lowers her head shamefully. "I'm sorry I messed up."

"It's okay, everyone makes mistakes." Audrey says. "It won't be a trouble for me to fix."

"R-Really? It's alright? Thank you, mommy, I..." Chloe smiles up at Audrey. "I love you!"

Audrey flinches. Her eyes flicker away and then back at Chloe as if the words don't compute. She eventually clears her throat and responds, "I, uh, love you too..."

Content and bubbling with happiness, Chloe skips off to sit at the dining table as Audrey had told her to do.

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Ladybug and Cat Noir stroll down a dark and empty street with their hands linked, both smiling giddily and clearly bursting with joy.

"It's quiet." Ladybug says, looking around.

"That's why I like it." Cat Noir replies. "Don't you remember this little street?"

Ladybug gasps as she spots a familiar food bender up ahead. "You took me here on my birthday and bought me a crepe there!"

"Yep, that's right!" Cat Noir says. "Back then we didn't know each other's identities, plus it would be troublesome for Cat Noir to be seen with a civilian girl at night, so I took you to this nice, quiet place, though it isn't much."

"Are you kidding? That was the best birthday ever! You bought me Jagged Stone tickets, quality art supplies, we had a fun sleepover and you took me out for food. Though I realise now how much extra effort you had to put in as two separate people." Ladybug giggles.

"Do you remember when Alya caught us after and freaked out?" Cat Noir says with a grin.

"Of course, I was so nervous!" Ladybug replies, clasping a hand on her cheek. "I was still in denial about my feelings for you as Cat Noir but I was obviously head over heels for you as Adrien so I was super self-conscious about Adrien discovering my relations with Cat Noir."

"Yeah, I was still in denial about my feelings for you as well but it hurt when you friend-zoned Cat Noir. We just couldn't make up our minds, huh?"

"I know right!" Ladybug laughs.

Cat Noir smirks and gives Ladybug's hand a squeeze. "Still can't, hey bugaboo." He mocks playfully.

Ladybug nudges Cat Noir with her shoulder. "Shut up."

Cat Noir sighs wistfully. "As the same two people tangled up in four different ship couples, how could we decide who to love?"

"That sounds like some sort of blurb for our love story." Ladybug says.

"Yes," Cat Noir replies. "A hell of a good one at that!"

.

After fixing up dinner, Audrey takes a seat at the dining table across from Chloe.

"So," She starts. "Tell me about being a superhero."

"Wait, wait, wait," Chloe says, waving her hand. "That comes way later. I've got a whole life to catch you up on!"

Audrey double-blinks. "You do?"

"Heads up, I wasn't always the best person. I went through some rough patches but mothers usually have to deal with their children through all kinds of phases, right? I have so much to fill you in on!" Chloe blabbers.

Audrey heaves a sigh, but nonetheless she listens to Chloe patiently and even finds herself engulfed in the story. She especially enjoyed hearing about the kids' quirky friendship group.

"I'm glad you and Adrien have maintained your friendship." Audrey says with a smile.

Chloe frowns. "You're not still set on us getting married are you? I've told you that he's dating Marinette—W-Well, not anymore I guess—But they're still in love!"

"Right," Audrey leans in intently. "Could you explain to me what happened?"

"What...happened? U-Um..." Chloe's eyes shift awkwardly as she carefully picks her words. "They were kinda forced apart. After Marinette's family had to give up their bakery, things got too stressful."

Audrey appears shocked for a second before her brows knot to form a more angered expression.

"Yeah, they're both really miserable about it. I wish there was something we could do..." Chloe prompts, her eyes lingering back to Audrey.

"Of course!" Audrey says firmly. "I'll get Marinette's bakery back, don't worry."

Chloe's jaw drops. "You—You will?!"

"Yes, I'll get right on it so if there is nothing else for you to tell me, you should go to bed." Audrey says.

"Can you tuck me in?" Chloe asks, her eyes sparkling.

"There's...nothing else you want to tell me?" Audrey questions.

"Yeah, heaps, but I think I'm ready to call it a night. We've got plenty of time together for stories, right?" Chloe says happily.

Audrey sighs in defeat. "Right. Okay then."

Chloe takes Audrey by the hand and leads her to her bedroom where she climbs into bed and insists on holding Audrey's hand until she drifts off to sleep. So, Audrey sits beside Chloe and waits. Once the child is sound asleep, Audrey carefully slips her hand away and pulls up the covers, tucking Chloe in nice and snug. Audrey smiles softly, her hand reaching out on its own to stroke Chloe's hair gently. Upon realising what she is doing, her breath hitches and she pulls her hand away.

Audrey takes a deep breath to collect herself. "Don't get attached..."